Plucking mechanism for musical instrument



T. A. KONlECKl PLUCKING MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Dec. 27, 1966 4 Sheets-$heet 1 Filed Aug. 19, 1964 INVENTOR.

M C m m n 5 w d d m w Dec. 27, 1966 'r. A. KONlECKl 3,293,975

PLUCKING MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Aug. 19, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 GUITAR A OR EVS Dec. 27, 1966 T. A. KONlECKl PLUCKING MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Aug. 19, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 O T N E V m Thaddeus A ffom'ec/ri AT rORN EYS Dec. 27, 1966 T. A. KONlECKl 3,293,975

' PLUCKING MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Aug. 19, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I NVEN'TOR.

Thaddeus r4 fafl eck/ AYTORNEYS United States Patent 3,293,975 PLUCKING MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Thaddeus A. Koniecki, 24261 Tamerack Circle, Southfield, Mich. 48075 Filed Aug. 19, 1964, Ser. No. 390,635 9 Claims. (Cl. 84-320) This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for mechanically picking the string, bar, vibratory reed or other vibratory tone generating element of a musical instrument.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved plucking mechanism adapted to pluck a vibratory tone generating element of a musical instrument in which a simple linear input motion is converted by the mechanism into an orbital output motion of a picker which is best adapted to pick the vibrating element, such as a string, in the most effective way.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism of the above character in which the moving and fixed structural elements are all arranged within a unitized frame of relatively narrow width, thereby making it possible for a plurality of such devices to be arranged in side-by-side relation in a minimum of space consistent with keyboard spacing requirements.

A further object is to provide a mechanism of the above character which affords a variety of tonal effects through adjustment of the components and which has built-in adjustments to adapt it to a variety of musical instruments.

Still another object is to provide a plucking mechanism of the above character actuated by keys such as those commonly employed on a piano or organ to thereby simplify and overcome certain objections inherent in the manual plucking of such stringed instruments as guitars, banjos, and the like.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional string guitar having a manually actuated embodiment of the present invention mounted thereon adapted for selectively or simultaneously plucking the strings of the guitar.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 illustrating one of the plucking mechanisms of the present invention in side elevation with the parts thereof shown in their respective positions at the beginning of a plucking cycle, some of the parts being broken away to illustrate details.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating the parts in their respective positions at an intermediate point in the plucking cycle.

FIG. 4 is another view similar to FIGS. 2 and 3 but illustrating the parts in their respective positions at a further point in the plucking cycle.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the application of the plucking device of the present invention to the plucking of a vibratory reed of an instrument such as an electric piano.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are enlarged side elevational views of the pick on the end of the plucking arm showing in 3,293,975 Patented Dec. 27, 1966 sequence the movement thereof in plucking a string of the guitar.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view illustrating on an enlarged scale the orbital path traced by the pick during a complete pluck-ing cycle.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view of a key actuated embodiment of the plucking mechanism of the present invention with the parts illustrated in their respective positions corresponding to FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional six-string guitar 20 is illustrated with one embodiment of a plucking mechanism 22 of the present invention attached to the guitar and operable for right hand fingering of the keys thereof to selectively or simultaneously pluck the strings 21 of the guitar. By way of illustration and not by way of limitation, plucking unit 22 contains six duplicate plucking mechanisms 26 one for each string of the guitar, mounted within a housing 24 in side by side relation in a compact arrangement.

Referring to FIG. 2, one complete embodiment of a plucking device 26 of the present invention is shown with the parts thereof in their respective positions at the beginning of a plucking cycle. Device 26 may be attached to the guitar by a suitable bracket comprising support 28 affixed to guitar 20. A rigid, longitudinally slotted arm 32 is adjustably attached to support 28 by a thumb screw 38, and the upper end of arm 32 carries a pivot support 34. Although support 34 is shown directly affixed to the frame of unit 26, it may be attached to housing 24 and interconnected by the housing to each unit 26. The bracket parts 28-34 make it possible to fasten the plucking mechanism at any desired angle or elevation as best suits the instrument and tone generating element to be plucked.

Plucking device 26 includes a rigidly interconnected framework comprising a pair of side members 36 and 38 rigidly interconnected at one end by a crosspiece 40 and at the other end by four parts comprising a base piece 42 fastened at one end to member 36, a pair of plates 44 and 46 secured respectively to opposite sides of member 42 and extending parallel to one another, and a transverse guide member 48 extending from member 36 to member 38 between plates 44 and 46 and secured thereto by a screw 50. A lever 66 is pivoted in the space between plates 44 and 46 on a pin 68 extending transversely through the plates and lever 66. In the rest position shown in FIG. 2, the other end 70 of lever 66 abuts a felt pad 72 affixed to guide 48 which serves as a stop to limit pivotal movement of lever 66 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2.

The side 74 of lever 66 remote from member 42 forms a support on which slides one end of a rod 76 which is mounted within the framework of device 26 for longitudinal and lateral movement in the plane of the drawing. Side 74 of lever 66 is notched at 78 to form a camming pocket for the adjacent rounded end 77 of rod 76 for a purpose set forth hereinafter. Rod 76 functions as a traveling support for a pick 80 and a felt damper 81 which are carried on a telescopic extension 82 adjustably secured by a set screw 84 to rod 76. Rod 76 extends through a slot 86 in guide 48 which is slightly wider than the diameter of rod 76 to freely guide the rod for lateral movement within the frame. In the starting position shown in FIG. 2, rod 76 bears against a felt pad 87 aflixed to guide 48 within slot 86 and at one end thereof. Rod 76 extends with a clearance fit through a bore 88 in a balance guidepost 90 which is fixedly mounted on a balance rail 92. Rail 92 in turn is pivotally mounted on a pin 94 mounted in member 40 and extending across a slot 95 in cross member 40. Rail 92 can pivot on pin 94 in the plane of the drawing between the limit positions thereof shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 respectively.

A compression coil spring 96 is secured at one end by a retainer 98 affixed to side member 36 and at the other end by a retainer 100 fixed on rail 92 and serves to bias the rail toward the position shown in FIG. 2. Rod 76 is biased toward lever 74 by a compression coil spring 102 which encircles rod 76 and abuts at one end against a washer 104 supported by post 90 and at the other end against a yoke 106 fixed to rod 76. Yoke 106 is bifurcated to straddle rail 92 and slide therealong when rod 76 is moved axially by lever 74. Rail 92 has a guide 108 fixed thereon having an opening 110 therein through which rod 76 passes, guide 108 cooperating with post 90 and yoke 106 to maintain rod 76 in parallelism with rail 92. The end limit of lateral, pivotal movement of rod 76 counterclockwise about pin 94 is adjustable by means of a screw 112 which is threaded through side member 38 and carries a disc 114 on its inner end to which is glued a felt pad 116. The end limit of pivotal movement of lever 66 clockwise about pin 68 is determined by a felt pad 118 secured to the end of side member 38 adjacent the lever.

It is to be noted that in addition to the sliding abutment contact connection between lever 66 and rod 76 there is a lost motion connection between the lever and rod through a strap 120 which is fixed at one end to lever 66 and runs between plates 44 and 46, through a guide hole 122 in guide member 48 and thence along member 48 to the free end of rail 92 to which the other end of strap 120 is secured. In the position of the parts in FIG. 2 the strap 120 is slack, whereas in the position of the parts in FIG. 3 strap 120 has just become taut due to the pivotal movement of the lever 66 between the positions shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The operation of the improved plucking mechanism of the present invention is illustrated sequentially in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 respectively. In order to pluck a particular string 21 of the guitar, finger pressure is applied to the finger lever 66 to pivot the same on pivot pin 68 from the at-rest position of FIG. 2 to the fully depressed position of FIG. 4. This motion of the lever is translated by the plucking mechanism 26 into movement of pick 80 from point A through point B to point C in the path traced in FIG. 10. During this movement, extension 82 of rod 76 and pick 80 move as shown in sequence in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 respectively, these figures corresponding to the positions of the parts in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 respectively. In this cycle pick 80 moves in the path from point A to point B where it engages string 21, after which it moves from point B to point C upwardly away from the plane of the strings, carrying the string with it and tensioning the same until the pick jerks rapidly further away from the plane of the string, thereby causing a quick release of string 21 and clearing the pick from the plane of vibration of the released string (see FIG. 4). When lever 66 is released and allowed to return to the rest position of FIG. 2, pick 80 traces the balance of the orbital path from point C back to the beginning point A where damper 81 engages string 21 to damp vibration of the same.

The action of the plucking mechanism 26 in producing above plucking motion of the pick will now be explained. As shown in FIG. 2, the pressure of spring 102 forces rod 76 into firm contact with surface 74 of lever 66, normally biasing the parts to the position of FIG. 2. In this position damper 81 engages string 21 to hold the same damped. As finger pressure is applied to lever 66 to pivot it clockwise about pivot 68, rod 76 is pushed axially against the pressure of spring 102, lever 66 thus acting as a lever of the second class.

Stopping the action at FIG. 3, it will be seen that the butt end 77 of rod 76 has to slide along surface 74 as a result of the angular change in position of lever 66 relative to the axis of rod 76. This lateral movement of rod 76 in the plane of the drawing occurs during lengthwise or axial movement of the rod and starts shortly after surface 74 passes a point of perpendicularity to the axis of rod 76. The precise point at which sliding movement of butt end 77 begins depends upon the coefficient of friction of surface 74, the pressure of spring 102, and also the pull of strap 120 on the balance rail 92. This sliding motion is rather gradual to begin with and occurs just after pick 30 has intercepted string 21 in its at-rest position of FIG. 2 (point B of FIG. 10). The major movement of rod 76 is still lengthwise immediately after passing point B so that the resultant motion of pick is generally parallel to the plane of the strings as string 21 is tensioned by being moved from the broken line position thereof shown in FIG. 3 to the solid line position of FIG. 3. This is in dicated as the pluck portion B-B of the orbital path shown in FIG. 10.

When the parts have reached the position of FIG. 3, the clockwise movement of lever 66 has drawn strap taut so that it is snubbed around the short end 70 of lever 66. A positive connection then exists between lever 66 and rod 76 via strap 120, rail 92 and guides 108 and 90. As lever 66 continues to pivot in the clockwise direction from the position thereof shown in FIG. 3 to that of FIG. 4, the butt end 77 slides onto the incline ramp of notch 78 in the lever, thereby suddenly accelerating its sliding motion along this portion of surface 74 of lever 66. During this sliding motion down the ramp, the force of spring 102 is augmented by the positive pull exerted through strap 120, thereby insuring that a snap sliding action of butt end 77 occurs at the precise point desired for releasing the tensioned string 21. This sets string 21 into vibratory motion at its natural frequency in a plane generally parallel to the plane of the strings. The snap action also quickly carries pick 80 up away from this plane so as not to interfere with the vibratory motion of the string.

If lever 66 is held depressed, the parts will be held in their respective positions of FIG. 4 wherein lever 66 abuts stop 118. Upon release of lever 66, the force of spring 102 urging rod 76 lengthwise against lever 66 and spring 96 acting on rail 92 cause lever 66 to pivot counterclockwise back to its position in FIG. 2. However, during this return movement the butt end 77 of rod 76 does not slide back along surface 74 of the lever. Rather it remains caught in notch 78 until the angle between the entrance ramp of the notch 78 passes perpendicularly with the axis of rod 76, whereupon the butt end 77 will again slide up out of the notch and back along surface 74 to the position of FIG. 2. By thus substantially preventing the sliding motion of end 77 during approximately the first half of return pivotal movement of lever 66, end 82 of rod 76 and thus pick 80 will trace a path from point C back to beginning point A (FIG. 10) so that pick 80 is raised above the plane of the strings.

Plucking mechanism 26 is adjustable to control the position and size of the orbital path of motion of pick 80 relative to strings 21. To facilitate such adjustment, scale markings are provided on the side of rail 92 for indicating, by movement of yoke 106 therealong, the lengthwise or axial movement of rod 76 during a plucking cycle. The effective length of rod 76 may be varied by changing the setting of the telescopic extension 82 on rod 76. Also, the pressure of spring 102 may be ad justed by loosening a set screw 107 which is threaded in yoke 106, and then moving yoke 106 along rod 76 until the desired string setting is obtained. The lateral movement of rod 76 is adjustable by means of screw 112, this adjustment being facilitated by the scale markings 132 also provided on the side of rail 92 adjacent a corner 134 of fixed plate 44 (FIG. 2). The angle of attack of pick 80 may be adjusted by raising or lowering support 32 on support 28 and by pivoting the framework about the axis of the pivot support 34. These adjustments may.

be varied as desired to suit the particular type of vibratory tone generating element being plucked. The amplitude of string vibration also depends to a certain extent on these adjustments, but is primarily controlledby the skill of the artisan in manipulating lever 66 as in playing the piano.

From the foregoing description, it will now be apparent that the plucking mechanism of the present invention provides a device which when attached to a guitar permits the clasical method of playing guitar through right hand manipulation of levers, thereby eliminating thumb and finger plucking with the right hand. Since there is a lever 66 available for each string, it is possible to strum several strings simultaneously for playing chords or to rapidy selectively strum the string singly or in groups ranging from two to six strings. In addition, it is to be noted that selertive damping is obtainable by allowing the lever or levers for the strings to be damped to return to the rest position of FIG. 2, while holding the remaining lever or levers in the fully depressed position of FIG. 4.

Another feature of the improved plucking mechanism of the present invention is its spring biased positive action which is entirely independent of gravity so that the mechanism can be used in any position. Due to the compact arrangement of the parts, the mechanism has a very narrow transverse dimension, as best seen in FIG. 5, so that several mechanisms 26 can be arranged side by side without unduly increasing the dimensions of housing 22. This is important in the application of the device to a guitar or other instruments where space limitations are a problem since it permits rods 76 to be arranged with their axes perpendicular to the strings 21 of the guitar, a relationship which is preferred for most efficient plucking.

It is to be understood that the plucking mechanism of the present invention may be applied to other types of musical instruments, such as an electric piano which, as illustrated in FIG. 6, may have tone generating vibratory reeds 140 mounted on a sound board 142. In such applications it is preferred to actuate lever 66 through a piano type key 150 as illustrated in the modification shown in FIG. 11. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, a keyboard member 152 is secured at one end by a screw 154 to frame member 42 and extends along one side of a modified housing 24' which is suitably enlarged to accommodate the keys 150 associated one with each plucking mechanism 26. Member 152 supports a fulcrum 156 secured by a screw pin 158 to the outer end of member 152. Pin 158 extends loosely through a hole in key 150 and, with fulcrum 156, provides a pivotal support for key 150 so that the same may pivot in the plane of the drawing. If desired, the outer end of member 152 may have a stop 160 secured thereto to limit pivotal movement of key 150 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 11. Stop 160 is preferably designed to limit such movement of the key at the same time lever 66 strikes abutment 118. The outer end of key 150 carries a finger pad 162 and the inner end carries a pad 164 which bears against the side 75 of lever 66 opposite side 74 thereof. From the previous description, it will be evident that as finger pressure is applied to pad 162 to pivot key 150 counterclockwise, pad 164 pushes the outer end of lever 66 clockwise about its pivot 68, thereby pushing rod 76 axially as in the previous embodiment.

It is also contemplated that lever 66 may be actuated by other suitable mechanisms, such as a spring biased plunger guided in the housing, which would have a linear rather than pivotal motion and which would butt against the lever 66 to pivot the same as described previously.

What is claimed is:

1. A mechanism for plucking a vibratory tone generating element comprising a frame, a picker rod disposed in said frame, means connected to said frame for slidably supporting said rod for longitudinal movement of the rod and for lateral movement of the rod about a pivot point, a lever pivoted in said frame for oscillatory movement between first and second positions in the plane of lateral movement of said rod and having a surface disposed adjacent one end of said rod and resilient means biasing said rod longitudinally toward said lever such that said one end of said rod slidably abuts said surface of said lever, said lever being pivotally movable from said first to second positions wherein the angle of said surface relative to the axis of said rod changes to first push said rod lengthwise and then cam the same laterally through a sliding action of said rod end in one direction along said surface of said lever, said resilient means acting on said lever through said rod to develop a torque tending to return said lever from said second to first positions and causing reverse sliding action of the rod on the lever as the same is pivoted from said second back to said first position.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for supporting said rod comprises a rail disposed in said frame and having a pivotal connection thereto adjacent one end of the rail, said rail including guide means having a bore therethrough for slidably receiving and maintaining said rod parallel to said rail, and means for yieldably biasing said rail in the direction of pivotal movement thereof to a predetermined position wherein said rod is disposed at one extreme of its lateral movement corresponding to the first position of said lever.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said resilient means biasing said r-od comprises a coil spring encircling said rod, said rod having a stop secured thereto, said spring being interposed between and abutting said stop and said guide means.

4. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said frame includes a pair of spaced side members interconnected by a cross piece member and means including a transverse guide member each of said cross piece and guide members having a slot therethrough adapted to slidably receive said rod, one of said cross piece and guide members being disposed adjacent said lever and having the slot therein oriented such that one end of the slot serves as a'stop adapted to engage the side of said rod to define said one extreme of lateral pivotal movement thereof.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said frame has an adjustable stop threadably mounted therein adapted to engage the side of said rod remote from said rail for adjusting said one extreme of lateral pivotal movement of said rod.

6. The combination set forth in claim 2 including a strap having one end connected to said lever and the other end connected to the rail, and means in said frame for guiding a portion of said strap intermediate said ends thereof such that pivotal movement of said lever tensions said strap and applies a pulling force to said rail at a predetermined point in the sliding movement of said rod end along said surface of said lever as the same is moving from said first to said second positions thereof.

7. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said lever is shaped such that said one surface thereof has a variable contour such that said surface is adapted to accelerate the sliding movement of said rod end at a predetermined point in the movement of said rod along said surface during pivotal movement of said lever between said first and second positions.

8. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said surface of said lever has a straight portion and a notched portion located adjacent thereto at a predetermined point in the path of movement of said rod end along said surface adapted to accelerate the sliding movement of said rod end after it leaves the straight portion-of said surface during pivotal movement of said lever from said first to said second positions thereof, said notched portion being curved to restrain sliding movement of said rod end in a direction opposite to said one direction along said surface during a first portion of the pivotal movement of the lever in said opposite direction.

9. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said rod has an extension telescopically mounted on an end thereof remote from said lever, said extension having a pick fixed thereon projecting transversely therefrom adapted to pluck the vibratory element and also having References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1899 Reed 84320 7/1934 Marzullo 83320 10 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

G. H. MILLER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MECHANISM FOR PLUCKING A VIBRATORY TONE GENERATING ELEMENT COMPRISING A FRAME, A PICKER ROD DISPOSED IN SAID FRAME, MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID FRAME FOR SLIDABLY SUPPORTING SAID ROD FOR LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF THE ROD AND FOR LATERAL MOVEMENT OF THE ROD ABOUT A PIVOT POINT, A LEVER PIVOTED IN SAID FRAME FOR OSCILLATORY MOVEMENT BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS IN THE PLANE OF LATERAL MOVEMENT OF SAID ROD AND RESILIENT MEANS BIASING ADJACENT ONE END OF SAID ROD AND RESILIENT MEANS BIASING SAID ROD LONGITUDINALLY TOWARD SAID LEVER SUCH THAT SAID ONE END OF SAID ROD SLIDABLY ABUTS SAID SURFACE OF SAID LEVER, SAID LEVER BEING PIVOTALLY MOVABLE FROM SAID FIRST TO SECOND POSITIONS WHEREIN THE ANGLE OF SAID SURFACE RELATIVE TO THE AXIS OF SAID ROD CHANGES TO FIRST PUSH SAID ROD LENGTHWISE AND THEN CAM THE SAME LATERALLY THROUGH A SLIDING ACTION OF SAID ROD END IN ONE DIRECTION ALONG SAID SURFACE OF SAID LEVER, SAID RESILIENT MEANS ACTING ON SAID LEVER THROUGH SAID ROD TO DEVELOP A TORQUE TENDING TO RETURN SAID LEVER FROM SAID SECOND TO FIRST POSITIONS AND CAUSING REVERSE SLIDING ACTION OF THE ROD ON THE LEVER AS THE SAME IS PIVOTED FROM SAID SECOND BACK TO SAID FIRST POSITION. 